Host an Exchange Student - Kansas City Area

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Our volunteer host families provide international students with a window in which to view and understand American life and culture. Students are expected to act as a member of your family. They will participate in your family's daily activities and chores, bond with their host siblings, and join in family conversations.

At the same time, the students will be sharing their culture and values with their American families. Students are encouraged to bring pictures of their home country, cook their favorite meals for their host family and share holiday celebrations and traditions from their home country.

Our philosophy is to promote international goodwill and understanding through international student exchange experiences. It is our belief that participation in hosting will foster a significant understanding of the values and attitudes of foreign cultures, while at the same time exposing foreign students to the uniqueness and diversity of American life.

Education at Home

So many of life's lessons are taught outside the classroom. Hosting takes the concepts of language class, world studies or geography out of the textbook and brings them to life. Moreover, through an international exchange student, hosting introduces your children at an early age to the culture and diversity of another country. Whether talking at the dinner table, shooting hoops or just hanging out with your exchange student, your children will absorb lasting memories that will influence the way they perceive the world.

Travel Without Going AnywhereFor many families, it is very difficult to arrange and pay for large family international vacations. Hosting a foreign exchange student allows you to bring the foreign country right into your own home. Countries cease to be distant places on a map and become a nation and culture that is dear to your heart.

Foreign PartnersETC works directly with carefully screened agents in each of the countries we accept students from. These agents carefully screen the students and provide them with an orientation before they depart for the US. While the students are here in the US, the partner organization as acts as a liaison between ETC and the student's natural parents. Countries ServedETC currently maintains partnerships with organizations in Argentina, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Netherlands, South Korea, Spain and Thailand. Special Activities

Each student can expect to participate in a variety of activities with their host family, Local Coordinator, and other ETC students. ETC hosts a fall welcome party, monthly local activities, holiday parties, 5 (optional) trips per year, and a spring farewell picnic.

American Public High SchoolsStudents with J-1 visas are placed in an American high school in their homestay community. Students are required to maintain passing grades and take classes in English and American History or Civics. Students are not permitted to take ESL or English immersion classes. Students who fail to maintain a C average will be required to hire a tutor at their own expense.

Financial ResponsibilitiesStudents come with comprehensive medical insurance. Families are volunteers and are not expected to pay for student expenses. Students are responsible for their own personal expenses including school activity charges, class fees, clothes, travel expenses, entertainment, bus passes, long distance phone charges, and lunches purchased at school.

Learn About the World without Leaving Home

You can broaden your family’s horizons and make a big difference in the life of a young person who is courageous enough to leave family and friends for ten months to live with an unknown family in a strange land. Won’t you please open your heart and your home to one of these young friendship ambassadors?

Please copy and paste the following link to see more about becoming a Local Coordinator with ETC! https://vimeo.com/218519854